Spbing-kotor foe



A. L. HAHL.

SPRING MOTOR FOR CLOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21. 1915.

1,321,821 Patented Nox n 18, 1919;

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AUGUSTUS L. or car-c ao, *I'LLIivoIs.

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Specification of laett rs Fatent.

Patented Nov. 18, 1919.

Original application filed December 9, 191,1, S erial No. 664,807. Patent No. 1,098,494, dated June 2, 1914.

Divided and this application filedMay 21, 1915. Serial No. 29,528. A

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, AUGUs'rUs In HAHL, a. citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Chicago, in the county ofCook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring-Motors for Qlocks, of which the following is a specificat10n.

.This invention relates to an improved spring motor for clocks, or the like, and this application is a division of my prior application Serial No. 664,807, filed December 9, 1911, Which has matured into Patent No. 1,098,491, dated June 2, 191 1. a

The purpose of this invention is to provide an improved spring motor which will overcome the difficulties as the springunwinds, and in which the parts are readily accessible for, cleaning and repair. A further object is to provide .a spring motor which will voperate smoothly and efficiently at all times. I

These and other features and obj ectsof the invention will appear more fully in the following specification, taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in which one form of my device is illustrated.

In the drawings- I Figure 1 a front elevation of my improved spring motor, showing the connection thereof with a part of the motor train of a clock. I I

Fig. 2 is a sectional view, taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1, showing certain parts in elevation; and a i Fig. 3 is a sectional view, takenon the line v V 3- 3 of Fig. 1.

4 surrounding thesleeve isa driving spriii 17 Referring to, the drawings, the. main frame member 10 is shown as comprising a laterally extending arm 10, which is ro- 'vided with. transversely disposed mem "ers l0 1havingsecured thereto by boltsor studs 11 the cross frame member 12, which ex.

tends parallel to the arm 10*.

A shaft 13 extends between and has its ends jou rnaled in the frame members 10 and 12, and rotatably mounted on this'shaft are the two cross-shaped spring-retaining inembers'l and15. These spring-retaining members are spaced apart by asleeve; 16, which is mounted upon theshaft: 13,-, an1d whichrhas it's'injner end, secured "to the S aft by a pin 18. The .outeiiend of the drivihg spring has seemed thereto a transversely extending pin 19, which is adaptedto slide in a slot 20 formed in the cross frame member 12. A collar. 21 is fixed on the pin 19 tobear against the inner side of the cross member, and the outer extremity of said pin is provided with an enlarged head or flange 22, which bears against the outer face of said cross member. In this way the pin is retained against movement transversely of the cross member, but is permitted to slide longitudinally thereof in the slot 20. p v The spring-retaining members 11 and 15 are adapted to engage closely the lateraledges of the driving spring, and the outer extremities of the arms of said spring-retaining members are provided with pivotally mounted clamping members 25, which serve to limit the expansion of the driving spring when in their normal positions, but which may be swung'outwardly to permit the expansion of the spring beyond its normal working limits. Each clamping member comprises a plate 25 having theinner curved surface adapted to conform to the L contour of the spring when the latter is expanded, and with two parallelradially-extending flanges 25 which are pivotally engaged by the bolt 26 passingthrough the v extremities. of the arms of the retaining members. A sleeve 27 is mounted upon each ofthe bolts 26, andserves to space the arms I 25* and the members 14 and 15 apart; One

the arms 25 of each clamping member is provided with a projection 28, which is adaptedto engage an aperture 29 in the adjacent. arm of the cross member when the clamping. member is in its normal position between the arms of the retaining members.

The arms 25? have suliicient resiliency, however, to permit the clamping members to be swung outwardly to a position such as shown by dotted lines at 30 in Fig. 1, thereby permittingthe driving spring to expand beyond its working limits when it is desired to clean the spring or other parts of the apparatus. Whenthe clamping members25 are swung outwardly, as described, thepin19 attached to the outer end of thedriving will. slide outwardly in the slot 20 to permit complete expansionof thespring; As shown in the drawings the driving spring is ex- .aiidecl to thefull extent of the working imits of-its expansion; but when wound up the shaft it will. be unaersaba that the outer coil of the spring is spaced inwardly from the parts 25 of the clamping members, so that there is sufiicient space between those parts and the outer coil of the spring to permit the expansion of the same within the desired working limits.

A spirally grooved cone or drum 35 is fixed on the shaft 13 inwardly of the springretaining member 15, and a flexible member 36 is adapted to wind upon said drum, or unwind therefrom, for the purpose of transmitting the power of the driving spring to a suitable receiving or transmitting mechanism. The flexible member has its other end wound upon a second grooved'cone or drum 37, which is mounted in a position with its taper directed oppositely to the taper of the drum 35, being fixed upon a shaft 38, which is journaled in the plates 39 and a0 carried by the main frame member 10. As the driving spring unwinds and the driving power decreases the flexible member 36 will wind up on the drum 35 so that the effective driving radius of the drum will gradually increase, and at the same time the flexible member will unwind from the drum 37 and the driving radius on said drum will decrease. In this way the decreasing driving power of the spring is compensated for, in order to produce a uniform driving power from the shaft 38, regardless of the state of expansion of the spring 17.

A ratchet wheel 41 is fixed on the shaft 38 within the drum or cone 37 and is adapted to be engaged by a pawl 42, which is pivotally mounted upon the inner face of a driving pinion 4-5 which forms a part of a suitable motor train, by means of which the power of the spring motor is transmitted to the device to be operated thereby. The shaft 38 is provided with a squared projecting portion 38, which is adapted to be engaged by a suitable key when it is desired to wind up the driving spring of the motor. During this operation the pawl 42 will ride freely upon the ratchet wheel 41, and the rotation of the drum 37 will be transmitted, through the flexible member 36, to the drum 35 fixed upon the shaft 13, thereby efiecting the rotation of the last-named shaft, and causing the spring to be wound up on the shaft.

WVhen the motor is in operation the unwinding of the spring will effect the rotation of the shaft in the reverse direction, which rotation will be transmitted, through the drum 35 and flexible member 36, to the drum 37 and shaft 38. This shaft will then rotate in the opposite direction, and positively engage the pawl 42, thereby effecting the retation of the driving pinion 45', and the operation of the mechanism connected thereto. One set of connections for this purposeis shown and described in my prior applicame a o r ferred to, and it will be understood that more than one motor may be employed if desired, as explained in that application.

An important advantage of this improved spring motor is that the spring and associated parts may be readily caused to expand beyond their normal working limits to per mit the cleaning and oiling of the same, so that a smooth and eflicient operation of the spring may be maintained at all times. It will be observed that the driving spring and the retaining members in which it is desired. Owing to the fart that the spring is limited in its expansion at diametrically opposite points, violent oscillations thereof when expanded are prevented, and a smoother action results.

Although I have shown and described a particular embodiment of the invention, and a particular application thereof, it will be understood that I contemplate changes in form and arrangement of parts as circumstances may suggest or necessity require, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim 1. In a spring motor, a drum comprising open walls for confining the spring and permitting access thereto, and a releasable holdmg member arranged to engage the spring when the latter has expanded to its working limit.

2. In a spring motor, a drum comprising open walls for confining said spring and permitting access thereto, said open wall extending beyond the normal limits of working expansion of the spring.

3. In a spring motor, a drum comprising open walls for confining the spring and permitting access thereto, said open walls extending beyond the normal limits of working expansion of said spring, and means attached to said walls for confining said spring to its normal working limits, said means being movable from position. to permit expansion beyond said limits.

4. In a spring motor, a drum comprising open walls for confining the spring and permitting access thereto, said open wal s ex tending beyond the normal limits of working expansion of said spring, means attached to said walls for confining said spring to its. normal working limits, said means being movable from position to permit expansion beyond said limits, a frame, and means for non-rotatively attaching one end of said spring to said frame, said attaching means being movable to permit said ex pansion.

5. In a device of the class described, a casing, a spring in said casing, and releasable holding members engaging the spring on diametrically opposite points, whereby upon release of said members said spring will be permitted to expand beyond its working limits for cleaning or the like.

6. In a device of the class described, a casing, a spring in said casing, and holding members pivotally attached to said casing to swing into and out of normal position for engaging said spring at a plurality of points when the latter has expanded to its outer working limit.

7. In a device of the class described, a pair of oppositely disposed plates having radially extending oppositely disposed arms, a spring mounted between said plates, clamp ing members mounted between the extremities of each pair of arms, and means to connect detachably and pivotally said clamping members to said arms.

8. In a device of the class described, apair of oppositely disposedtplates having radially extending oppositely disposed arms, a spring mounted between said plates, clamping me1nbers mounted between the extremities of each pair of arms, and means to connect detachably and pivotally said clamping members to said arms, said clamping members having arcuate surfaces adapted to 0011- form to the contour of said spring when in normal position.

9. In a device of the class described, a frame, a shaft pivotally mounted in said frame, a spring surrounding said shaft and having one of its ends secured thereto, releasable holding means arranged to engage said spring when the latter has expanded to its outer working limit, and a pin secured to the end of said spring opposite the end which is secured to said shaft, said frame having a slot slidably engaged by said spring, said slot being located to permit expansion of said spring beyond its outer working limit when said holding means are released.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name. I

AUGUSTUS L. HAHL. 

